YouTube will use Content ID data to display full music credits and link to the official videos

YouTube is to begin surfacing more song and artist information for videos that are hosted on the YouTube platform. The Google-owned video-streaming giant has long offered a service called Content ID, which automatically identifies copyrighted content on YouTube and lets copyright owners decide what happens next. They may request to monetize the video by showing ads, for example, or they may request that the video be blocked. Now, the very same technology that powers Content ID will be used to display more data via a “music in this video” feature. “YouTube is committed to providing recognition to all of the people who contribute to the creative process, and this is just the beginning,” the company said in a blog post. “Through our industry partnerships we will expand the scope and quality of data to ensure all creators are credited as completely and accurately as possible.” Google already offers a range of music-themed apps and services beyond the main YouTube portal, including YouTube Music and YouTube Red subscription service, while the company is also reportedly planning a “Spotify-killing” subscription music-streaming service later this year. Put simply, Google wants artists, record labels, and publishers onboard as it pushes out into the music realm, and this latest launch should help demonstrate that it’s serious about crediting original music authors and rightsholders. Ahead of its public listing this year, Spotify announced a similar feature when it launched songwriter and producer credits for each track. This launch also opens the door for Google to better monetize and… [Read full story]